Jessie Bates Admits He Still Thinks About Bengals Ahead of NFL Trade Deadline
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Jessie Bates Admits He Still Thinks About Bengals Ahead of NFL Trade Deadline
Jan 29, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III (30) and defensive end Joseph Ossai (58) take the field against the Kansas City Chiefs prior to the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports
Russell Heltman·Cincinnati Bengals On SI
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TheBengalssaid goodbye to star safety Jessie Bate III for financial reasons a few years ago, and he still thinks about his opening stint in the NFL. Bates has been one of the best safeties to enter the league since 2010, and he sat down with FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz recently, touching on his time with the Bengals.
If the Falcons want to deal, maybe Bates can become aBengalagain via trade. Cincinnati could use another playmaker at the safety position.
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Time To Come Back?
Oct 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III (3) reacts after an interception with safety Xavier Watts (31) against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
He plays Cincinnati in Madrid on Nov. 9.
"I mean, heck yeah, man! They had to pay the offense, man. They had to get those playmakers, those one-in-a-lifetime type of talent," Bates said to Schultz about the what-if. "I love those dudes, and we had a great run. A couple times at the Super Bowl, and those times were some of the greatest times of my life. So I understood. That's part of the business. Sometimes you can't fit everybody in that cap number. That number is a little higher nowadays than it was back then around COVID, so it's all a blessing, man. It's part of the journey, and I was there for five years. That place has a special part in my heart for sure."
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Since leaving the Bengals, Bates hasn't fallen off one bit; in fact, he's gotten better. The veteran is posting an 84.1 Pro Football Focus grade this season and has been at 80-plus in three of his four Falcons seasons.
The 2026 grade ranks second among qualified safeties (min. 280 snaps) to go along with three pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one interception not even midway through the season.
He would've more than lived up to a new deal with Cincinnati, and they could've made the money work, but things just didn't play out that way.
Eventually, they had to sign Bryan Cook this past offseason to finally bring that position to a potentially palatable level. Alas, Cook's regressed in 2026 due to nagging injury or other reasons.
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He's posted a career-low 44.7 PFF grade so far in Cincinnati.
"If I could tell any other young guys that come in that building, it's definitely a business. And as much as the performance matters as well. The type of person you are, the character that you have in that locker room, the way you carry yourself definitely matters as well," Bates said.
Bates only has a $7.23 million cap hit on an expiring deal this season and could really help the Bengals in pursuit of another Super Bowl if Atlanta is willing to deal him.
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